Eliza Dushku on “Dollhouse,” Buffy and Faith, and Her Lesbian/Bi Fans

“They’re all actually in places that can be covered with just a swimsuit [so] sometimes we cover them up.” In fact, in the March issue of Maxim, which features Dushku on the cover, the actress shared, “I love catching a glimpse of my tattoos when I strip down and take a shower. Kat Von D did a beautiful symbolic feather on my ribs.”

Speaking to AfterEllen.com from New York City while promoting her new Fox series Dollhouse, Dushku admitted that she is not clueless about her strong female following. “I have been made aware of that over the years,” she said, “particularly around my Buffy years.”

With the intense girl-on-girl fight scenes with Sarah Michelle Gellar on the cult WB series, Dushku said it wasn’t difficult to read between the lines with her role of Faith.

“I know during Buffy there were a lot of people who really dissected that show,” she said. “I remember a lot of people leaning to Faith and Buffy having this deep down love for one another.”

Faith, right, with Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Massachusetts native says that she understands why she might get attention from both sexes.

“I’m obviously very girly,” she said, “but I grew up with a lot of boys and so there’s definitely a tomboy in me and I’ve found just that I have fans equally in males and females.”

Her cheerleader-with-an-attitude role in Bring it On was a big hit with queer men and women.

“I have a lot of lesbian-love fans out there,” she said, “and a lot of gay men who still do cheers in supermarkets from Bring It On.”

Dushku, right, in Bring it On

Dushku is clearly grateful that she has such an eclectic fan base.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said. “I love hearing from all sides in my fan world, so I appreciate every individual that appreciates watching me at work.”